Page 35 of Logan

Nodding, she slowly curved her lips up. “Yeah, I’m with you.”

“Good. First stop is the airfield, and when we get back, I’ll take you to the Goldmine Saloon for food.”

For the next few miles, Vivian noted he kept her hand in his, resting on his thigh. Instead of feeling odd or presumptuous, she smiled at the warmth spreading from her fingers to the rest of her body. As they pulled into the airstrip and he came to a stop, his hand let go of hers, and she regretfully felt the cold where his warmth had been.

“Come on,” he called out, walking toward a helicopter.

She joined him, admiring the way he walked around the aircraft, taking note of various parts. He climbed inside and, again, began to go through the motions of checking things out. She took the opportunity to look around at the small airfield, barely more than a large barn and runway. A couple of small planes sat near the building, but other than that, the place appeared vacant.

Hearing a noise behind her, Logan said, “I’ll be right back.”

Nodding, she watched as he jogged toward the barn-like hangar and walked back toward her a few minutes later. For a man so large, she loved the way he moved. He walked like a man in charge—not with an in-your-face attitude but with a confidence that bespoke his character.

He grinned as he neared, and she returned his smile. “All right. We’re ready.”

Cocking her head to the side, she looked at his empty arms, asking, “Did you get what you came for?”

“Nope. We’re on our way to get it now.”

“Oh, okay.” Turning, she started toward the truck, but he called her back.

“Hey, Viv. This way.”

She stared at him wide-eyed as he nodded toward the helicopter. “That? We’re going in that?” Her voice rose with each word until squeaking by the end.

“Come on,” Logan said, reaching over to take her hand and giving a little pull. She didn’t refuse, but her hesitation poured off her. He stepped closer until he was directly in front of her, barely an inch separating their bodies. Peering down, he said, “Are you afraid? I would never let anything hurt you. Believe me?”

Sucking in her lips, she slid her eyes sideways toward the helicopter before returning her gaze to him. She believed him when he said he wouldn’t let anything hurt her. With her head leaned back, her former nervousness was replaced with determination, and she nodded slowly. “Okay. Let’s do this.”

A few minutes later, Vivian was buckled in and watched with interest as he handled the controls. Before she knew it, they were airborne. Her stomach took a few dips but soon settled so that as she looked out the windows, the beautiful Alaskan landscape was the only thing on her mind.

“Where are we going?” she asked, as her courage allowed her to lean forward, taking in more scenery. Thick forests, with slim roads, occasionally cutting through them, stretched as far as the eye could see. She was awed as she leaned over to peer down farther. Crystal-blue lakes, surfaces as flat as a mirror, came into view. Leaning back in her seat, she looked out the front, snow-capped mountains in the distance, standing like sentinels over the water.

“To an airstrip on the east of Fairbanks that has something I ordered. It’s in an undisclosed location, so that’s why we’re not going somewhere more populated.”

She smiled and looked down, understanding she had been given all the information needed. About twenty minutes later, they began their descent. Impressed with his piloting abilities, she turned to him, her voice full of admiration. “This was absolutely amazing, Logan. Thank you!” She impulsively repeated the action he had instigated earlier and reached for his hand, squeezing his fingers.

He deftly turned his palm up so that his fingers linked with hers. They sat, entranced, and stared at each other for a moment before a man alighted from a hangar where a small plane sat.

“Hang on, Viv. Just stay here. I’ll only be a minute.”

With that, he squeezed her fingers before unlinking their hands to climb out, and once again, she immediately missed his touch.

She watched as he approached the man, who greeted him heartily. Dressed in pants and a shirt with sunglasses on, the only thing she could tell from a distance was that he was big—just as big as Logan.

The two men spoke briefly before they walked to the plane, pulled out several boxes, and walked to the back door of the helicopter to set them inside. Glancing behind her, she smiled at the stranger, but he didn’t look her way. Sucking in her lips, she turned to face the front again.

They made a few more trips, each time carrying cardboard boxes to the helicopter and stowing them in the back. She wondered what they contained but had learned enough of Logan in the past few days to know that he would tell her if she needed to know.Few days. Is that all it’s been?

The door closing startled her, and she realized she had been lost in thought over the changes happening in her life soquickly. Twisting around, she watched as Logan shook hands with the mystery man again. Opening her door, he said, “Let me introduce you to one of my Keepers. This is Cole. He flew down some equipment I needed and the supplies for your lab. Cole, this is Vivian.”

Cole smiled up at her and offered his hand. “It’s very nice to meet you, Ms. Sanders. I hope I brought everything you’ll need.”

“Thank you for making the trip,” she said, thrilled to meet one of Logan’s friends, shaking his hand.

Cole stepped away, and Logan shook his hand again before closing her door and rounding the helicopter. He quickly climbed back into the cockpit. He settled the headset over his ears, and in a few minutes, they took flight once more.

Once in the air, he said, “Thanks for coming with me, Viv. How about we take a little detour on the way back, and you can see some more scenery?”

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